The latest local news, weather and high school sports in and around Columbia and Jefferson City

Friday, May 10, 2013  A 12-year-old girl who started an initiative to gather letters to send to soldiers deployed overseas stopped in Fulton Friday to read to an elementary school.

Monday, February 04, 2013  The Missouri National Guardsmen began the mission in early August 2011.

Thursday, January 24, 2013  Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is expected to announce Thursday that more than 230,000 battlefront posts are now open to women.

Friday, January 18, 2013  The Missouri National Guard says it still has one soldier working in Joplin, 20 months after guard members responded to the devastating tornado that killed 161 people.

Thursday, December 06, 2012  Governor Jay Nixon is in Afghanistan visiting Missourians deployed to the middle east.

Monday, October 01, 2012  The bomber struck a group of Afghan police and international troops shortly after they got out of their vehicles to walk through a market area in Khost city.

Monday, August 27, 2012  Ultimately, prosecutors said, the militia's goal was to overthrow the government and assassinate the president.

Thursday, July 12, 2012  A congressional committee has advanced a bill that would create a government registry for veterans who may have been exposed to toxic smoke while in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Monday, May 28, 2012  Memorial Day now has a whole new meaning for a Jefferson City family.

Friday, March 23, 2012  Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales is expected to be told Friday he faces 17 counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder, along with other charges, in connection with a shooting rampage in two southern Afghanistan villages.

Friday, March 09, 2012  A Missouri National Guard agribusiness development team is being deployed to Afghanistan.

Friday, July 29, 2011  AWOL soldier accused of plotting attack on Fort Hood condemned 2009 rampage at Texas Army base

Tuesday, July 12, 2011  Families of soldiers killed by interpreter in Afghanistan accuse US contractor of negligence

Wednesday, June 22, 2011  Another group of Missouri National Guard Soldiers returned to civilian life on Wednesday.

Friday, June 17, 2011  The 150th anniversary commemoration of a civil war battle begins Friday.